Nico Rosberg, Williams, Jerez, 2009
Active years: 1978-present
History
Frank Williams had run an earlier team using customer cars. But his entry as a constructor in the late 1970s proved more successful, the team winning its first championship in 1980.
More titles followed in the 1980s thanks to Honda turbo power before the Japanese manufacturer switched to McLaren. Williams eventually turned to Renault, with which it won a swathe of further titles, before they too left.
A new partnership with BMW brought race wins but not championships, and since the two split Williams has struggled to escape the midfield.
Headquarters
Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Major team personnel
Team principals: Sir Frank Williams
Director of engineering: Patrick Head
Technical director: Sam Michael
Chief executive officer: Adam Parr
Chief operations engineer: Rod Nelson
Chief designer: Ed Wood
Chief operating officer: Alex Burns
Head of aerodynamics: John Tomlinson
Senior systems engineer: John Russell
Team manager: Tim Newton
Chief mechanic: Carl Gaden
Race engineer (Car no. 1): Tony Ross
Race engineer (Car no. 2): Xevi Pujolar
Previous identities: None
Williams articles
- Williams FW32 has test debut (Pictures)
- Williams FW32 spied by Autosport
- Barrichello and Hülkenberg show off new Williams team kit (Pictures)
- No launch for Williams FW32
- First Qatari drives for Williams at Losail
I’m wondering as to whether this may tells us anything about potential Williams sponsorships as well.
Anyway its good to see Sir Frank diversifying the Williams portfolio…
Btw, Why don’t we have an F1 race at Losail by now anyway, I always quite liked the place.
Probably because it’s just another giant Scalextric track in the middle of nowhere, and F1 doesn’t need another one of those, although it’ll get them anyway.
Because they haven’t been prepared to Ecclestone enough?
Hopefully this drive will lead to a decent sponsorship deal for Williams.
I wonder if he was any good? Did they possibly post lap times?
An interesting side note: Shiekh Khalid is involved in the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi NHRA Top Fuel drag racing team here in the United States. In their first year, his dragster driver, Larry Dixon, came within a few points of winning the championship. His Highness is apparently interested in a lot of different types of motorsports, and also drives:
http://www.alanjohnsonracing.com/aev-54.aspx
He seems like a pretty cool guy!
That moustache should be in Formula One.
In the last picture he looks like Nakajima with sunglasses and a moustache
A Formula One first : a sheikh-down test.
This harks back to the pre and post war years when well-to-do people drove in F1.
Faaaaaaaaantastic.
The sheik isn’t some numpty without ability – I believe he’s actually a drag racer. It’s something of a stunt by Williams, since they’re setting up a technology base in Qatar.
I think Button must have really ****** Ross off as I find it interesting that Rubens is allowed to do a Williams event and Jenson is being watched.. lol
I wonder if Rubens drove the FW31?
I’m sorry Keith I didn’t realize that word would be inappropriate.. I should of used upset.. me bad..
Do you know if Rubens drove the Williams?